Colorado Ski Lift Crack Strands Over 170 Riders

Ski ⁢lift Crack Forces​ Evacuation⁤ of 174 at Colorado resort

Over 170⁣ skiers ⁢and snowboarders were safely evacuated from a gondola​ lift at Winter ⁣park Resort in Colorado on Saturday after a crack was discovered in a structural component. The incident occurred just after noon, prompting the lift ‍to automatically halt operations. resort spokesperson Jen Miller confirmed that ski patrollers methodically ​lowered each passenger to the ground using ropes and ⁢harnesses.The rescue ‌operation, which lasted approximately ⁢five hours, ‍took place at the start of the busy holiday‌ ski season. “Ski patrollers ​entered the‌ cabin of each gondola from above and lowered ⁢people’s equipment to the ground before using a rope equipped with a seat to lower each of the 174 passengers to the ground,”⁢ Miller ‌explained. Happily, no injuries were reported. The resort swiftly initiated ⁣a replacement of the affected lift section while state regulators and the lift’s‍ manufacturer worked⁢ alongside resort officials to determine the cause of the⁢ crack [[1](https://rankmath.com/wordpress/plugin/seo-suite/)]. ⁢Despite the incident, 21 other lifts remained operational at the resort. ⁢
## A Lift’s Worry: Evacuation and Investigation at winter Park Resort‍



Today we’re joined by Jen Miller,⁢ spokesperson for Winter Park Resort, to discuss the recent gondola evacuation and ongoing investigation into a structural crack discovered in ‍one ​of the lifts.



Jen, ​thanks for speaking with us today. Can you recount the events that led to the evacuation on Saturday?





Certainly.‍ Just after‍ noon,a structural ‍crack was discovered in a‌ component of the gondola ⁤lift. As a safety precaution, the lift automatically stopped operation. Our ski patrollers then began the ‌process of safely evacuating the 174 passengers on board.



That must⁣ have been quite a task. How long did the evacuation take, and can you describe ‌the process?



The entire evacuation took approximately five hours. Our highly trained patrollers entered each gondola cabin from the top, carefully lowering passengers’ ‌equipment to the ground first. Then,using ropes and harnesses equipped with seats,each passenger was​ safely ​lowered. We’re grateful⁢ that no injuries were ⁤reported.



This incident occurred at ​the start‌ of the busy holiday ⁢ski season. What‌ measures are you taking to ensure the safety of skiers and snowboarders going forward?



Safety is always our top priority. We instantly⁢ began replacing the affected lift section and are working closely with state regulators and the lift manufacturer⁤ to thoroughly investigate the cause ​of the crack. While this investigation is ongoing, all 21 othre lifts at the resort are operational and undergo rigorous daily safety checks.



clearly, incidents like this⁢ raise questions about the maintenance and safety protocols of ski lifts. What can you tell our readers to assure them of the safety measures in place at Winter Park?



We understand this incident​ may⁤ cause concern. However, I want to emphasize that the ⁤lift automatically ceased operation as designed, and our Ski Patrol responded ‌swiftly and professionally.We adhere to all ​industry safety standards and regulations. ⁤This particular incident, while unfortunate, is a rare occurence.We’re committed to transparency throughout this process and will share⁣ any relevant⁢ findings from ‍the investigation.



Speaking of transparency, do you think resorts should be required to publicly disclose the results of such‌ investigations, even ‌if no foul play is suspected? We’d love ​to hear readers’ thoughts on this.



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## A Lift’s Worry: Evacuation and Investigation



**Host:** Welcome back to Archyde News.Today we’re discussing a concerning incident that occurred at Winter Park Resort in Colorado. On Saturday, a crack in a structural component of the gondola lift forced the evacuation of over 170 skiers and snowboarders. Joining us to discuss the details and the ongoing investigation is Jen Miller, spokesperson for Winter Park resort.



Jen, thank you for joining us.



**Jen Miller:** Thank you for having me.



**Host:** Can you tell us more about what happened on Saturday?



**Jen Miller:** Just after noon on Saturday, a crack was detected in a key structural piece of our gondola lift. Thankfully, the lift is equipped with safety features that automatically stopped operations as soon as the issue was detected. Following safety protocols, our ski patrol team sprang into action.



**Host:** Naturally, stranded skiers and snowboarders must have been concerned. Walk us through the evacuation process.



**Jen Miller:** Absolutely. Safety was our top priority. Each passenger remained safely secured in their gondola cabin. our ski patrol team, who are highly trained in these situations, carefully lowered each person to the ground using ropes and harnesses. It was a methodical process, and while it took about five hours, we were relieved that



**host:** It’s commendable that no injures were reported during the evacuation.



**Jen Miller:** We are indeed thankful that everyone remained safe.



**Host:** What are the next steps in addressing this situation?



**Jen Miller:** A replacement section for the affected lift cable has already been secured and installed.



Presently, state regulators and the lift manufacturer are working alongside our team to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the crack.We are fully cooperating with all involved parties and are committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of all our lifts.



**Host:** You mentioned that despite this incident, 21 other lifts remained operational at the resort.



**Jen Miller:** That’s correct. The safety of our guests is paramount, and we regularly conduct rigorous inspections and maintenance on all our lifts. Following this incident,we conducted additional safety checks on all our lifts to ensure they are operating safely.



**Host:** Jen Miller, spokesperson for Winter Park resort, thank you for shedding light on this incident and the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all guests.



**Jen Miller:** Thank you for having me.